Throughout her career, Candis Cayne has admittedly embraced her role as an unofficial spokeswoman for all things trans. When it comes to the community's recent outcry against terminology deemed "transphobic" on RuPaul's Drag Race, though, Cayne takes an opposing stance.

Drag is punk and should never be subjected to politically correct ideals. The moment it stops provoking is the moment it fails as an art form. Trans people are forever indebted to drag for the mainstream explosion of gender as we see it today.

It might help for someone to talk with RuPaul and explain how many trans women really don't want to overcome their distaste for the slurs "tranny" and "shemale." As one who was slurred as a cover girl for the extremist Traditional Values Coalition back in 2008, I join in asking for simple respect and civility.

RuPaul, you don't get to tell me or any other real-life, 24/7 trans person what we should or shouldn't be offended by. You don't get to tell us to lighten up, not when our lives, our ability to live, work, and take care of the families that depend on us are on the line.